by Aderemi Adegbite
You have come again,
Again you have come —
Uppity child,
Readily recognized indeed
By your regalia.
You have come again:
You, the awaited child,
With blemished marks
On the dome of your tummy.
This is your umpteenth time
Of coming through the same path.
Can’t you see that
My belly is no more fertile?
Milk of my breast
Is now sourer than sewer-stench.
Don’t think I’m singing songs
Of beckoning to you
For your coming this time!
I am in alliance with oracle-priests
And they’ve given your caucus
Poisonous food, on my behalf,
Under the sacred bambo tree,
And through this you’ve been
Disconnected from their network!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha . . .
I shall give you no other name
Than your mystical name: KOKUMO!
The title of the poem is a Yoruba word, which means “This Shall NOT Die Again,” it’s a name given to a child that comes and goes at will – Abiku – just as it is in J.P Clarke’s Abiku and Wole Soyinka’s Abiku
But this KOKUMO is a reaction to the two poets’ works on the same subject. While J.P Clarke was busy begging the wicked child to have mercy on the mother, Wole Soyinka spoke for the child, saying that there is nothing that could be done for him/her to wait this time and anytime. Hence, in the Yoruba mythology on this subject, ABIKU can be averted if neccessary precautions are strictly followed. And this is what I’ve done in my poem KOKUMO. ~ Aderemi Adegbite
Added by the editor: From past to present and future: the regenerative spirit of the Abiku
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Very beautiful poem! Keep on writing, you are really talented!
Thanks Lance for your comment. I must stress that this poem is one of the poems in my first children collection of poetry. And I like the flow myself…
this is very beautiful how you’ve turn the original version to something more contemporary and appealing to readers …. I love it and wise you all the best in your career.
Short, sweet and well-written–like the script of an abiku’s life.
very few people apart from the ‘masters’ have dwelt on the concept of changelings/abikus/ogbanjes etc well done, remi.